Effectiveness of cationically modified cellulose polymers for dewatering algae. Issue 5 (23rd March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liberatore, Matthew W.; Peterson, Brittany N.; Nottoli, Theresa; McCulloch, Joshua M.; Jinkerson, Robert E.; Boyle, Nanette R.; Posewitz, Matthew C.
• Is Part Of: Separation science and technology. Volume 51:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 892
• Page End: 898
• Publication Date: 2016-03-23
• Subjects: Algae -- flocculation -- polymers; Separation (Technology) -- Periodicals; 660.284205
• DOI: 10.1080/01496395.2015.1121278
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-6395

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A method to flocculate algal cultures of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii using four different industrially produced polymers is presented. Starting with a 1 wt% stock polymer solution, flocculation times less than 60 min were observed for 0.1 to 0.6 g polymer per L of algae culture, while control samples took greater than 1400 min to flocculate. Cell counts showed that 99% of the cells were flocculated using the polymers compared to 73% for the control. Finally, the flocculation process was successful at both 5 and 40 mL batch sizes for one polymer; therefore, the method is efficient, effective and may be scalable.